Difcours fur Shakespeare et fur Monfieur de Voltaire, par Jofeph Baretti, Secretaire pour la Correfpondence etrangere de l'Academie Royale Britannique. 8vo. 1777. An Effay on the Dramatic Character of Sir John Falftaff. 8vo. 1777. A Letter from Monfieur de Voltaire to the French Academy. Tranflated from the original Edition just published at Paris. 8vo. 1777. EXTRACTS A ΟΝ ΤΗΕ Books of the STATIONERS' Company. Charter was granted to the Company of Stationers, on the 4th of May, 1556, (third and fourth of Philip and Mary) and was confirmed by Queen Elizabeth in 1560. The first volume of these Entries has been either loft or destroyed, as the earlieft now to be found is lettered B. The hall was burnt in the Fire of London. The entries begin July 17, 1576. Feb. 18, 1582. M. Tottell.] Romeo and Juletta *. April 3, 1592. Edw. White.] The tragedie of Arden of Feversham and Black Will †. Vol. B. p. 193 286 N. B. The terms book and ballad were anciently used to fignify dramatic works as well as any other forms of compofition; while tragedy and comedy were titles very often bestowed on novels of the ferious and the lighter kind. * Perhaps the original work on which Shakespeare founded his play of Romeo and Juliet. This play was reprinted in 1770 at Feversham, with a preface attributing it to Shakespeare. The collection of parallel paffages which the editor has brought forward to justify his fuppofition, is fuch as will make the reader fmile. The following is a fpecimen. Arden of Feversham, p. 74. "Fling down Endimion, and fnatch him up." Merchant of Venice, A&t V. Sc. i. "Peace! how the moon fleeps with Endymion !" Arden of Feverfham, p. 87. "Let my death make amends for all my fin." Much Ado about Nothing, A&t IV. Sc. ii. "Death is the fairest cover for her shame." April 18, 1593. Rich. Field.] A booke entitled Venus and Adonis. 297 bi Afterwards entered by Harrison, fen. June 23, 1594: by W. Leake, June Oct. 19, 1593. Symon Waterfon.] A booke entitled the Tragedie of Cleopatra t. Feb. 6, 1593 John Danter.] A booke entitled a noble Roman Hif- Entered alfo unto him by warrant from March 12, 1593. Tho. Millington.] A booke entituled the First Part of the Contention of the twoo famous Houfes of Yorke and Lancafter, with the Deathe of the good Duke Humphrie, and the Banishment and Deathe of the Duke of Yorke, and the tragical Ende of the proude Cardinall of Winchefer, with the notable Rebellion of Jacke Cade, and the Duke of Yorke's firft Claime unto the Crown. May 2, 1594. Peter Shorte.] A pleafaunt conceyted hystorie called 301 b. 304 b. 305 b. *The laft ftanza of a poem entitled "Mirrha the Mother of Adonis; or Luftes Prodegies, by William Barksted," 1607, has the following praife of Shakespeare's Venus and Adonis. "But ftay, my mufe, in thy own confines keepe; "Hath purchas'd it; cypres thy brow will fit." I fuppofe this to be Daniel's tragedy of Cleopatra. Simon Waterfon was one of the printers of his other works. the the Tayminge of a Shrowe *. May 12, 1594. Tho. Strode.] A booke entituled the famous Victories of Henry the Fift, containing the honorable Battell of Agincourt t. May 14, 1594 Edw. White.] A booke entituled the famous Chronicle Hiftorye of Leire King of England and his three Daughters ‡. May 22, 1594. Edw. White.] A booke intituled a Winter Nyghts Paftime §. June 19, 1594. Tho. Creede.] An enterlude entitled the Tragedie of Richard the Third, wherein is fhown the Death of Edward the Fourthe, with the Smotheringe of the twoo Princes in the Tower, with the lamentable End of Shore's Wife, and the Contention of the two Houfes of Lancaster and York . July 20, 1594. Tho. Creede.] The lamentable Tragedie of Locrine, the eldeft Son of K. Brutus, difcourfinge the Warres of the Britains, &c. Before the beginning of this volume are placed two leaves containing irregular entries, prohibitions, notes, &c. Among these are the following. 306 b. 306 b. 307 307 b. 309 b. 310 b. Vol. C. *I conceive it to be the play that furnished Shakespeare with the materials which he afterwards worked up into another with the fame title. This might have been the very difpleafing play mentioned in the epilogue to the fecond part of King Henry IV. I fuppofe this to be the play on the fame fubject as that of our author, but written before it. § Query, if the Winter's Tale. This could not have been the work of Shakespeare, as the death of Jane Shore makes no part of his drama. Aug. Cuthbert Burby.] A booke entituled Edward the Edw. White.] A new ballad of Romeo and Juliett ‡. 12 b. Rich. Jones.] Two ballads, being the first and second parts of the Widowe of Watling-street §. 22 b. Aug. 29, 1597. Andrew Wife.] The tragedye of Richard the Seconde. Oct. 20, 1597. Andrew Wife.] The tragedie of King Richard the Clarence. Feb. 25, 1597. Andrew Wife.] A booke entitled the Hiftorie of fbury against Henry Hottfpurre of the July 22, 1598. James Roberts.] A booke of the Merchaunt of Ve • Probably the play before that of Shakespeare. 23 25 31 This is afcribed to Shakespeare by the compilers of ancient catalogues. Quere, if Shakespeare's play, the first edition of which appeared in 1597: § Perhaps the fongs on which the play with the fame title was founded. It may, however, be the play itself. It was not uncommon to divide one dramatic piece, though defigned for a single exhibition, into two parts. See the K. John before that of Shakespeare. nyse, |